Morgan Stanley: Google Trades at 12% Premium, Meta at 30% Discount as Internet Giants' Valuations Polarize

According to Chaoxiang Research, a Morgan Stanley report dated August 25 noted that the internet sector declined by an average of 2% last week, with Meta down approximately 7%, Amazon down roughly 2%, and Google virtually flat. Current forward P/E ratios for 2026 stand at 19x for Amazon, 17x for Google, and 17x for Meta, reflecting discounts of 36%, a premium of 36%, and a discount of 24% relative to historical averages, respectively. On an EV/EBITDA basis, Amazon at 11.2x represents a 12% discount to its two-year average, Google at 15.1x implies an 8% premium, and Meta at 8.7x reflects a 30% discount. Morgan Stanley maintains an "Attractive" rating on the internet sector, highlighting that AI capabilities are emerging as a core variable driving valuation divergence. The sector's overall forward EV/EBITDA is 9% below the five-year average, while EV/Sales is 16% above it, underscoring a divergence between revenue and profit multiples. After reclassifying stock-based compensation as a cash expense, the adjusted EV/EBITDA for digital media rises by approximately 36% on average, e-commerce by 30%, and travel and the sharing economy by 44%. Upcoming catalysts include the launch of Google's Gemini 4, stabilization of Amazon Web Services (AWS) growth, progress in Meta's AI ad monetization, and shifts in the interest rate environment.